Dutch net’s profits jump 39% in ’92

Dutch market leader RTL-4 upped its profits by 39.2% during 1992 to a before-tax total of 160.2 million guilders ($ 33.6 million). The channel’s total turnover was about $ 225 million for the year.

At last week’s RTL-4 shareholders meeting, Jules Felten, chairman of the board, congratulated management and personnel for an “outstanding” performance during the channel’s third fiscal year.

The strong results, Felten said, have allowed for total recoupment of the station’s startup costs — a”considerable achievement” given that the station launched in ’89. The Dutch market leader had a national prime time share of 26.9 %. Including non-prime time programming, RTL-4’s market share was 28.6%. On rumors a second Dutch-targeted RTL station is under consideration, the board said that “studies are continuing.”